With the new year drawing closer, there are many things to keep your eyes peeled for when making upgrades to your home. Previously, we have looked at domestic technology ranging from the latest gaming devices to modern security options, but this time we will be focusing specifically on bathroom technology to look out for in 2023.
Rise Up, Recycling Showers
Similar to the last few years, concerns about sustainability are at the forefront of many people’s minds as preferences for eco-friendly options for lighting, water usage, and recycled fittings have achieved well-deserved popularity.
Water scarcity is a growing issue, with up to two-thirds of the world’s population potentially facing this issue by 2025. As a result, finding ways to efficiently reduce water consumption is more relevant than ever.
Recycling showers are one such available solution for your home and have been around since as early as 1767, though you can rest assured that there have been plenty of modern upgrades since then. When in use, recycling showers recirculate, filter, and purify water for your shower. This method also saves energy by lowering the household hot water demand at the same time.
Large companies such as IKEA have already begun to put greater emphasis on developing water recycling showers for the future, so you can bet that there will be no shortage of options available to you when looking to upgrade.
Dare to DIY
The popularity of DIY in America is a trend that only continues to grow as many people have taken projects big and small into their own hands. Like other sustainable solutions, using DIY methods for preserving your bathroom space saves resources, time, and expenditure. One of the best things about DIY solutions is that there are infinite, easily accessible resources available to make the process less daunting for whatever task you’re facing.
Before tackling any bigger DIY projects, however, it’s important to consider the basics. While the state of the white seal lining in your bathroom may seem like a minor issue, knowing when it’s time to perform maintenance is important, as it is responsible for preventing water from leaking between joints. The same goes for ensuring your bathroom has suitable ventilation, whether natural or by installing a fan. Neglecting to ensure these areas are properly addressed can lead to bigger problems down the line.
Keeping up to date on the state of your bathroom is important not only from an aesthetic perspective. Since the bathroom and kitchen areas inevitably face a lot of moisture during daily use, preventing damage and health risks caused by mold and dampness — things to be particularly wary of in colder weather — is essential in the long run.
Never Underestimate Underfloor Heating
If you’re looking to go further than practicality and want to add a little extra shine to your bathroom (beyond what a bit of cleaning spray can do), then there is no shortage of technology that can bring a little luxury when needed.
Like recyclable showers, underfloor heating is something that has been around since way back when, though the latter is definitely the senior here: “baked floors” have existed since at least 5,000 BC in Korea. Now, electric underfloor heating has become increasingly popular worldwide and can even be installed in wet rooms and showers.
Aside from the benefits of keeping your toes warm, underfloor heating can be a cheaper (but no less powerful) option than other heating appliances and are generally not too complicated to install. Not to mention, ensuring the bathroom stays warm is yet another good way to prevent the build-up of mold from excess moisture.
As one of the most used spaces in your house, reviewing what could do with an upgrade in your bathroom in the new year is undoubtedly worth it, and finding sustainable ways to make the space both comfortable and efficient is even more so.